It's all About Immigration. Still.
In the wake of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas' impeachment by the U.S. House of Representatives, Florida hit hard on the topic of immigration this week, taking steps to demand action at the border. The sixth week of the nine-week Legislative session is over, and lawmakers are scrambling to pass laws related to border security, abortion, and communism, thrusting themselves into the national spotlight.
In DeSantis news, the Florida Governor is pushing for increased penalties for retail theft, promising law and order protections for businesses. Republican Rep. Alina Garcia, who endorsed the Governor for his Presidential run, will not run for re-election next term—setting her sights instead on becoming the next Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections.
From wild claims of bears high on crack to parents infuriated by a new social media ban for children, this week has been chock full of excitement and controversy. To discover what's been happening at the Florida Capitol, read on in The Floridian's newest edition of the Session newsletter.
On Immigration:
Sen. Blaise Ingoglia: "If you look at the amount of people that they are allowing under Biden's bill, it's an expansion of where we are now. There are people saying that it's the most conservative policy, but I disagree with it. It's conservative compared to the highs, but it's still an expansion of what's going on at the border now."
Sen. Jason Pizzo: "I think the border is a serious issue, and I said it on the Floor last year: Biden sucks at the border, and Trump sucked at it, and Obama sucked at it, and no President's been good about it because no one wants to draw a bright line rule."
On a Communism Task Force in Schools:
Rep. Alina Garcia: "When we don't learn from our history we are destined to repeat it, and there will be nowhere to go, God forbid, if this country ever falls into the hands of communism."
Rep. Patricia Williams: "We have several kids that can't read on grade level, and we want to put something in the classroom to divide them: hatred."
Republican Bill Would Define a Fetus as a Person, Hurt Dems' Abortion Amendment Chances
Abortion rights advocates are up in arms over new bill language establishing an "unborn child" as a person at conception. If passed, this language could negatively impact Democrats' efforts...READ MORE
Rep. Alina Garcia Will Not Seek Reelection to Florida House
Florida Rep. Alina Garcia (R) has decided to not seek reelection to the Florida House of Representatives in the 2024 presidential election cycle, and will instead run for Miami-Dade...READ MORE
Drug Cartels Can 'Drive a Mack Truck Filled With Fentanyl' Through Biden Immigration Bill—By the Floridian's Liv Caputo—Republicans are turning on President Biden's bipartisan immigration bill, claiming the measure will lead to increased immigration...
Ingoglia to Congress on Border Crisis: 'Get Off Your Butts and Fix it'—By the Floridian's Liv Caputo—In a Valentine's Day voice vote, the Florida Senate is demanding Congress enforce immigration laws, secure the border, and protect against human and drug...
Florida Parents Overwhelmingly Oppose Social Media Ban for Teenagers—By the Floridian's Javier Manjarres—The controversial legislative measure that passed in the Florida House of Representatives that calls for an all-out Social Media ban for children...
Ban on Lab-Grown Meat Leads to Fears of a Boosted Chinese Economy—By the Floridian's Liv Caputo—A sweeping Florida bill is facing backlash over its proposed ban on lab-grown meat, with opponents fearing limited consumer choices, a weakened...
'Crack Bears Do Not Exist': FL Democrats Poke Fun at Lawmaker Targeting Bears High on Crack—By the Floridian's Liv Caputo—A Republican Lawmaker is no longer targeting Florida's "crack bears" in his bill allowing people to kill bears in self-defense. On the House Floor...
DeSantis-Appointed Communist Task Force to Revamp Florida School Curriculums—By the Floridian's Liv Caputo—A new bill would add an anti-communism curriculum to Florida schools, creating a communist task force of Governor-appointed...
EXCLUSIVE: Ingoglia Says House Republicans Fought Themselves on Mayorkas Impeachment—By the Floridian's Liv Caputo—Congressional Republicans failed last week to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a member of Biden's Cabinet...
Florida Has Bipartisan Support for Securing Texas Border—By the Floridian's Liv Caputo—As Governor Ron DeSantis prepares to send thousands of National and State Guardsmen to the Texas Border, Florida Republicans and Democrats agree on one thing...
DeSantis Supports New Legislation to Crack Down on Retail Theft—By the Floridian's Christian Pitten—In an effort to boost more law and order in the state, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis came out supporting legislation to protect Floridians from retail...
George Floyd-Era Police Review Boards to Come to an End Under New Bill—By the Floridian's Liv Caputo—A Republican-led bill would abolish civilian police review boards from the state. Mostly founded after the death of George Floyd, Democrats argue...
Florida Bill Would Protect and House Pregnant Homeless Women—By the Floridian's Liv Caputo—A new bill seeks to provide resources and housing for pregnant homeless women in Florida. Through a new grant program within the Department...
